Cornaceae (the
dogwood family) are a cosmopolitan family of
flowering plants in the order
Cornales. The family contains approximately 110 species of mostly trees and shrubs, which may be deciduous or evergreen. Members of the family usually have opposite or alternate simple leaves, four- or five-parted flowers clustered in
inflorescences or
pseudanthia, and
drupaceous fruits. In northern temperate areas, Cornaceae are well known from two genera:
Cornus, the dogwoods, and
Nyssa, the tupelos.